Miss. alligator weight record broken for third time in a week

JACKSON, Miss., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Mississippi officials say a group of alligator hunters' 741.5-pound catch broke the state record only a week after it was set twice in one day.

Ricky Flynt, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' Alligator Program coordinator, confirmed the gator caught Sunday by Dalco Turner of Gluckstadt, John Ratcliff of Canton, Jennifer Ratcliff of Canton and Jimmy Greer of Canton weighed 741.5 pounds, making it a new state record for a male gator, The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., reported Monday.

The catch, which equaled the state record for length at 13 feet, 6.5 inches, came just a week after Beth Trammell of Madison landed a record-setting 723.5-pound alligator. Her record was broken only an hour later by Dustin Bockman of Vicksburg and his 727-pound catch.

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